Air-flow retarding baffle for refrigerating systems



Aug. 10, 1954 P CARAPICO, 5R 2,585,779

AIR-FLOW RETARDING BAFFLE FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Filed Feb. 4, 1955 INVENToR FRHNK CRRnPxco, SR.

avfg.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10, 1954 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR-FLOW RETARDING BAFFLE FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS This invention relates generally to refrigerators and is more particularly concerned with improved means for draining therefrom water formed when a cooling unit housed thereby is defrosted.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide for such a cooling` unit a water drain leaving an outlet from said refrigerator and baille means for retarding any ilow of air through said drain.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means as aforesaid simple in design and construction and easy and cheap to make.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, it being understood that the present invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, as described in detail hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as ilnally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing a construction embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the construction at the inlet end of the drain;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the baille means shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the baille means above.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, the refrigerator element Il) of the combination comprises a vertical wall I I and an upper horizontal wall I2, and the cooling unit element I3 of the combination comprises coils Ill and a fan I5. The refrigerator I and the cooling unit I3 are of conventional construction, and the latter is conventionally suspended from the horizontal wall I2 in spaced relation to the wall I I in order to provide for adequate circulation of air.

The drain means of the combination comprises a receptacle I6 suitably supported from the cooling unit I3 and disposed thereunder, a conduit I'I from the receptacle I6 to the outside of the refrigerator I0, and a baille I8 disposed inside the receptacle I6 and over the inlet opening of the conduit l1.

The receptacle I6 is conventional and comprises a pitched bottom I9 and a rim 20. The conduit II also is conventional, being provided with an inlet opening 2l which presents upwardly into the receptacle I6 and an outlet opening 22 which communicates with the outside of the re- 2 Claims. (Cl. 62--103) frigerator Ill, a pitch downward from the receptacle It and a covering 23 of insulating material.

The baffle I8 comprises a plate having a flat horizontally disposed imperforate section 24 provided with a rounded edge 26 and integral vertically disposed flange 25. For quick-detachably supporting the baille I8 from the rim 26 of the receptacle IE, there is provided a hook 2l in the form of a piece of strap material turned upon itself and over the rim 20 to afford a pair of legs 28 and 29 positioned to depend from the strap portion 3i) therebetween. The leg 28 of the strap 2l and the flange 25 of the baille I8 are secured f together by a pair of countersunk head bolts ill-3l which are projected through registering apertures therein, the apertures in the flange 25 being countersunk to receive the heads of the bolts (il-3l and the apertures in the leg 28 being in the form of slotted openings 32-32. The inlet opening ZI of the conduit is disposed proximate the rim 20, and the section 25 of the baille I8 projects inwardly from the leg 28 of the strap 2l and the rim 2t of the receptacle I6 in covering relation to the inlet opening 2l of the conduit I'I and in spaced relation to the bottom I9 of the receptacle I6.

When the cooling unit I3 is defrosted the water from the melting ice drips into the receptacle I6 and flows under the section 24 of the baffle I8 and into the conduit I'I through the inlet opening 2 I. The conduit I1 being pitched downwardly the water flows therethrough by the force of gravity and leaves the same through the outlet opening 22. It should be observed that the conduit II is provided with a much larger cross sectional area than ordinarily would be necessary for accommodating the volume of water ilowing therethrough. This is to give warm air from outside the refrigerator access to the conduit Il at all times. The baille section B being disposed in covering relation to the inlet opening 2l of the conduit I'I and in spaced relation to the bottom I9 of the receptacle I6 the warm air in the conduit Il is retarded thereby in its movement upward through the inlet opening 2l. In addition, cold air in the refrigerator is retarded by the baille section 24 in its movement downward into the conduit l'I through the inlet opening 2l. Thus the baffle section 24 retards the ow of air through the conduit I'I, tending to prevent warm air from passing upwardly out of the conduit Il and also to prevent cold air from passing downwardly into the conduit I'I. Consequently, the latter and the area around the inlet opening 2l remain comparatively warm, and freezing of water in the conduit or around the inlet opening 2 I is effectively avoided, the conduit l1 being thereby kept open to function as intended.

It will be understood that the specific embodiment of the present invention shown and described hereinbefore is for the purpose of'illustration only and that it is not intended to be limited thereby. The baile i3 may assume many forms. For example, as to the section 24 of the baille I8, the rounded edge 26 is not essential, and, as to the hook 2, this member might be disposed with altogether and the flange 25 of the baiile I8 might be bolted directly to the rim 20 of the receptacle i5. Accordingly, the present invention is susceptible of various changes, modifications and applications, in addition to those already pointed out, which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles or real spirit thereof, and that it is intended to claim the invention broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

l. The combination comprising a refrigerator, a cooling unit within said refrigerator operable to eiect melting of ice formed upon said cooling unit, and drain meansfor the water from said melting ice comprising a rimmed receptaclel for collecting said water, a conduit` the inlet opening of which is disposed proximate said rim and` presents upwardly into said receptacle for receiv ing said water from the receptacle and the outlet opening of which is in communication with the outside of said refrigerator, said conduit being adapted formoveinent of said water therethrough by force of gravity, and baiiie means supported.

from said rim and projected inwardly therefrom in covering relation to said inlet opening for retarding any ov/ of air through said conduit and being further supported in spaced relation to said inlet opening for facilitating the free flow of said water into said conduit.

2. The combination comprising a refrigerator, a cooling unit within said refrigerator operable to effect melting of ice formed upon said cooling unit, and drain means for the water from said melting ice comprising a rimmed receptacle for collecting said water, a conduit the inlet opening of which is disposed proximate said rim and presents upwardly into said receptacle for receiving said water from the receptacle and the outlet' opening of which is in communication with the outside of said refrigerator, said conduit being adapted for movement of said water therethrough byforce, of gravity, and an imperforate baffle plate quick-detachably supported from said rim and projected inwardly therefrom in covering relation to said inlet opening for retarding any flow of air through said conduit, said plate being vertically adjustable `for selected positioning thereof above said inlet opening to facilitate the free flow of lsaid water into said conduit.

Referencesv Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS Number Name Date 895,962 Chase Aug. 1l, 1908 1,800,255 Hull Apr. 14, 1931 2,292,032 Atchison Aug. 4, 1942 2,303,138 Philipp Nov. 2d, 1942 2,442,204- Janos May 25, 1948 

